Warwick zoning for small homes
Township of Warwick, in the County of Lambton. Population 3,641 (2021 census).
Backyard suite
A separate home in the yard of a house: garden suite, laneway suite or coach house, including prefab, modular or container units used this way.
Allowed with limits · Warwick’s term: “additional dwelling unit in an accessory building”
One additional dwelling unit is permitted in a rear-yard accessory building in zones that permit single detached dwellings, up to 90 m². On parcels with private well and septic the unit must be within the farm building cluster. [1]
- Maximum size
- Additional Dwelling Unit shall not exceed 90 square metres in size (s.3.8 d) ii)) [1]
- Maximum height
- 5.5 m (accessory building height, s.3.3.4, applied by s.3.8 d) ii)) [1]
- Setbacks
- Rear yard only; at least 1.5 m from interior side or rear lot line, 3.0 m if above a private garage (s.3.8 d) i), iii), iv)) [1]
- Parking
- One parking space per Additional Dwelling Unit; may be tandem (s.3.8 b), c)) [1]
- Number allowed
- Maximum two ADUs per parcel; at most one in an accessory building (s.3.8 a)) [1]
- Servicing
- Must connect to municipal services where available; on private services must be approved under Part 8 of the Building Code and be in the farm building cluster (s.3.8 f), g), l)) [1]
Ontario-wide rule
Ontario law stops municipalities from banning one residential unit in a building ancillary to a detached house, semi-detached house or rowhouse on a parcel of urban residential land, as long as the lot has no more than three units in total. Municipalities still set most other zoning rules, but provincial law limits parking requirements, minimum unit size, lot coverage and separation distances. These units are also exempt from development charges and parkland dedication. [2][3][4]
Tiny home on a foundation
A small house as the main home on its own lot. The key rule is any minimum dwelling size.
Allowed with limits · Warwick’s term: “single detached dwelling”
Table A sets a minimum gross floor area of 80 m² for a one-storey dwelling (70 m² ground floor for other than one-storey), applying to the agricultural and residential zones. [5][1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- 80 sq m minimum for a one-storey dwelling; 70 sq m minimum on the ground floor for other than a one-storey dwelling (Table A, Minimum Gross Floor Area Regulations) [5]
Ontario-wide rule
Ontario law sets no minimum total size for a house that is the main dwelling. The Building Code sets minimum room areas, so the smallest compliant dwelling is roughly 17.5 m² by the Province's own estimate. Municipalities may still set minimum floor areas for main dwellings in their zoning by-laws. The provincial ban on minimum sizes covers only additional residential units. [2][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Tiny home on wheels or park model
Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.
Not allowed · Warwick’s term: “travel trailer / mobile home”
A travel trailer is excluded from the definition of dwelling and may not be used for living or sleeping in a residential zone for more than 30 days in any 10 consecutive months; no zone permits mobile home parks or trailer camps. Garden suites have been allowed only through site-specific temporary use by-laws. [1]
- Where allowed
- Year-round privately-owned travel trailer camps are listed as prohibited uses (s.3.2 b)); existing mobile homes only in the R1(1) exception zone (s.7.3.1) [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- Single wide mobile home definition: floor area not less than 65 m², CSA approved, on permanent foundations [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suites permitted only by site-specific temporary use by-laws (e.g. A1(11) for 10 years; B/L 97/19 at 6409 London Line) [1]
- Approvals
- No Travel Trailer, truck camper or Motor Home shall be used for living, sleeping or eating accommodation in any Residential Zone for more than 30 days in any period of 10 consecutive months (s.3.12) [1]
Ontario-wide rule
Ontario has no single rule for living full-time in a tiny home on wheels. A unit on wheels can count as a 'building' that needs a permit and must meet the Building Code once it stays in one place, is hooked up to services or is anchored. Park model trailers are recognized only as seasonal recreational buildings. Municipalities may allow a portable garden suite under a temporary-use by-law for up to 20 years, with extensions of up to 3 years each. [11][6][2][8][7]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Warwick’s term: “accessory building used for human habitation”
Accessory uses do not include any building used for human habitation except an additional dwelling unit under s.3.8; the by-law has no sleeping cabin or bunkie provision. [1]
- Where allowed
- Accessory uses shall not include any Building used for human habitation, except in accordance with section 3.8 (s.3.3.1 b)) [1]
Ontario-wide rule
Ontario law has no rule written specifically for bunkies or sleeping cabins. Whether one needs a building permit depends on the Building Code Act's definition of 'building' and the Code's shed exemption. That exemption covers only storage-use sheds, so it does not cover a structure used for sleeping. Municipal zoning rules for accessory buildings still apply. [8][6][2][12]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law No. 121 of 2012 (Consolidation October 2024)
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 299/19: Additional residential units (Ontario e-Laws)
- Development Charges Act, 1997 (Ontario e-Laws)
- Township of Warwick web page (warwicktownship.ca)
- Government of Ontario PDF
- Build or buy a tiny home: Building Code requirements (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code Act, 1992 (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 163/24: Ontario Building Code (Ontario e-Laws)
- 2024 Ontario Building Code (Government of Ontario)
- Build or buy a tiny home: permits and inspections (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code updates (Government of Ontario)
Not legal advice
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